The Municipality of Lezhë hosted a key international event aimed at strengthening cooperation between public institutions and private stakeholders to enhance environmental and tourism standards along the Adriatic coast.

The workshop, titled “Building Synergy between Public and Private Sectors to Enhance Blue Flag Criteria and Standards in the Region”, was organized as part of the “Blue Flag” project, funded by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic programme at the Rafaelo Resort in Shëngjin . It brought together 77 participants from Albania, Italy, and Montenegro, including government officials, tourism operators, environmental organizations, and students from tourism-focused vocational schools.

At the heart of the discussion was a shared commitment to improve coastal quality and advance sustainable tourism through the adoption of Blue Flag criteria — a globally recognized symbol of clean and safe beaches.

The event provided a platform to:

• Strengthen cross-sector collaboration,
• Raise awareness on the value of sustainability in tourism,
• Share best practices and strategies among international partners,
• Engage local communities and NGOs in the process,
• Offer guidance to municipalities and private actors to meet the standards for Blue Flag certification.

Participants emphasized the need for a unified approach to preserving the Adriatic coastline’s natural assets while boosting its tourism potential. Among the key outcomes was a call to draft a joint action plan to guide public and private efforts, promote the use of digital tools for green marketing, and involve local communities more actively in environmental initiatives.

The workshop marked an important milestone for the region, reinforcing the idea that sustainable tourism is not just a policy objective but a shared responsibility — one that requires strong partnerships, clear standards, and community engagement.